This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rebecca Reed, 87, who earns $12 an hour working as a church secretary and an editorial assistant in New Orleans. Reed said she works out of financial necessity and would like to be retired. Business Insider has verified Reed’s current income and employment with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
When I was younger, I worked largely in retail. I spent four years in Europe because my first husband was in the military, then came back and worked in a dress shop.
After getting a divorce, I ended up becoming a credit manager. That was very unusual at the time because women were often secretaries, not credit managers. I met my second husband at that company.
After the company went under, I stopped working.
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When we had both been working, we were earning good salaries, and I never questioned anything about our finances. I really should have.
We had separate checking accounts at the time and took a lot of trips. Little did I know that neither of us had much in our savings.
My husband died in 2011
We were both on Social Security, but when he died, I realized there was no insurance. It was complicated, but he had children and an ex-wife, and all this stuff got mixed up.
I had to file for bankruptcy soon after, because I couldn’t pay the bills. My car was falling apart, and I had to do everything on my own. There was still a mortgage on the house, which I did not know about, and the note at the time was about $1,000 a month. If it hadn’t been for my family, I don’t know where I would be. I wouldn’t have the house for sure, because I couldn’t have afforded it.
I also had two serious car accidents within the past two years, and now I have a car note that’s choking me to death. I also fractured my shoulder in one of the accidents, and had to get physical therapy. Otherwise, my health is very good. I should probably exercise more and eat better, though.
I had to get a job
I asked myself, What am I going to do? I’m old.
The secretary at the church I go to quit, so I was able to get the job. I work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. I get paid $12 an hour, although sometimes, my church was the site of filmings, during which I made $20 an hour, but that’s since dried up. The job also doesn’t provide insurance, though I have Medicare.
I realized I needed a little more money, so last December, I got another part-time job working at a candy store in the French Quarter. However, that was hard because I had to park far away and walk there, so I couldn’t keep that job. Instead, I began working for a woman who was writing the history of her husband as an editorial assistant. At that job, I’m also paid $12 an hour.
I don’t want to work, but I have to
I only get Social Security, which is around $3,000 a month. I finally paid off the house, which was a miracle.
I wish I had started saving earlier. If you don’t save now, it’s going to turn around and kick you in the butt.
I also wish I had my insurance figured out.
I don’t have any insurance on my house. If a hurricane comes along and blows it away, I’m going to have to sell the lot. It is outrageously expensive; people are paying over $6,000 a year just for homeowners’ insurance.
I have to pay my car note, food costs, and upkeep on the house. There was a termite infestation on the roof, so I put in a new roof. I get good mileage on the car and only fill up around once every week and a half.
I’m the only one still working in my family. My sisters and all of my friends are retired. Whenever we set up a high school reunion, they have to plan it around when I can go.
I hope to quit when I’m 90, but we’ll see
Sometimes, I think it might be OK to quit these two jobs and just stay home. I could tighten up a little more and get rid of things like Netflix.
If it were up to me, I would rather be home eating bonbons and watching TV. But I can’t. In order to do the things I want to do, I need more income.
I recently took a trip with my sister to Gulf Shores in Alabama, and it was a wonderful getaway. I wouldn’t be able to do that if I weren’t working.
I’m 87 years old now, and I keep thinking, “What is my future?” I don’t know how much longer I have. I’d love a future of not working and having a little more money, where I can go out to eat with friends occasionally and buy things I really like. But I really can’t, unless I win the lottery, and I don’t play the lottery, so I don’t have a chance.
I told the president of the church council that when I hit 90, I’m out of here, so I have some time for myself. Still, maybe I won’t be able to retire. Who knows?
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